Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Tony Snell scored 17 points on 5-of-8
shooting from 3-point range as 15th-ranked New Mexico defeated San Diego
State, 60-50, to advance to the final round of the Mountain West Conference
Tournament.
Cameron Bairstow added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Alex Kirk scored 15 for
the top-seeded Lobos (28-5), who will look to win the MWC Tournament for
the second consecutive year.
New Mexico will face the winner of Friday's UNLV versus Colorado State matchup
on Saturday.
Chase Tapley and Xavier Thames scored 14 points apiece for the Aztecs (22-10),
who shot just 31.3 percent (20-for-64) from the field.
San Diego State guard Jamaal Franklin, who averaged 17.0 points per game
entering the contest, was held to just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting.
Kendall Williams gave the Lobos a 14-9 lead after knocking down a trey at the
12:04 mark. The Aztecs, though, tied the game moments later on a Xavier Thames
jumper.
Snell's triple at the 7:57 mark ignited a a 13-6 flurry for New Mexico, which
took a 29-20 lead into the break.
The Lobos opened the second half on a 14-2 surge, with Snell burying three
triples in a row to put New Mexico up 43-22, but SDSU cut it to 47-34 near the
midway point of the second half.
Tapley's jumper with just over 4 1/2 minutes left made it a nine-point game,
but after a layup from Kirk, the Aztecs couldn't get it under double-digits
the rest of the way.
Game Notes
The top seed in the MWC Tournament hasn't won the championship in six years
... New Mexico has won eight of its last nine games ... SDSU scored 17 points
off 10 New Mexico turnovers ... The Aztecs went to the free throw line only
eight times (5-for-8).
The Sports Network